Germany

[DE] FRK and RTL Deutschland Agree on Cable Retransmission

IRIS 2012-5:1/17

Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

The media group RTL Deutschland and the Fachverband für Rundfunkempfangs- und Kabelanlagen (Association for Broadcasting Reception and Cable Equipment - FRK) are reported to have signed a framework agreement on cable retransmission rights at the end of March 2012.

The FRK represents the interests of its affiliated companies that manufacture and maintain television aerials and cable equipment. The media group RTL Deutschland had terminated its membership of VG Media in March 2010 in order to look after the copyright and related rights for the retransmission of its programmes in Germany and abroad itself (see IRIS 2010-4/15).

The new agreement, which should end the uncertainty that has existed since the end of 2010, covers the broadcasting group’s general channels, including HD channels, as well as the new free-TV channel RTL Nitro. It claims to be the first agreement of its kind between a broadcasting group and a cable association in Germany.